okay though but after having rewatched both Avatar and Legend of Korra recently, here is my actual issue with the former and why I like the latter so much more: I don't like that both structurally and spiritually, Aang is constantly rewarded for coasting on unearned power.
Aang... never really has to confront anything about his behavior, his lack of discipline, his approach to life, or... fuckin' anything, actually. Whenever someone tries to tell him to stop goofing off, or is jealous of his inborn talent, it always turns out THEY'RE wrong.
"But he feels guilty about abandoning his duties a hundred years ago and the deaths of the Air Nomads!"
Yeah, but does he change as a result of it? Does he actually, appreciably, become a more disciplined individual? Does he ever reconcile his idealism with reality?
Yeah, but does he change as a result of it? Does he actually, appreciably, become a more disciplined individual? Does he ever reconcile his idealism with reality?
No, he doesn't. He never actually comes to a moral or ethical conclusion about Ozai, or his responsibilities, not in that show. It even invents an entire new FIELD OF BENDING for him to learn just so he DOESN'T have to ever make a hard decision that leaves him compromised.
It's the same wishy-washy bend-over-backwards nonsense that drove me utterly insane when I was reading Rurouni Kenshin; it would rather drop in last-second borderline-divine contrivances to avoid its protagonist having to actually confront the unsustainability of their worldview.
Legend of Korra, though, is a show much more willing to show where that attitude leads. Aang being an undisciplined but wildly-talented prodigy who just ignores anything he doesn't like ends up leaving a very complicated legacy for his children to clean up.
His poor parenting, general aimlessness, and decision to solve all of his problems by simply shoving them under the rug creates long-term rifts in both global politics and his own family. That takes a level of honesty about consequences the original show just... doesn't have.
It isn't a matter of whether I find Aang likable or not. Aang's very likable! But... he's also very static in the original show. Legend of Korra makes that staticness, that stubborn refusal to commit, and plays it instead for drama and as a SINCERE part of his character.
It isn't that I just like seeing characters be sad or mopey, and Season 1 of Korra does have some issues with that(god, that romance plot sucked).
But at least people have to actually... deal with the results of their actions.
But at least people have to actually... deal with the results of their actions.
